- Electroclash - the current new term for anything that sounds even remotely 80's and combines the elements of house, techno, electro and probably a bit of breakbeat - is probably the best word I could use to describe Freaks' new album, even though it is probably one of the worst coined terms to come out in a while.
Music For Freaks new release is The Man Who Lived Underground done by the Freaks who are made up of Luke Solomon (founder of Classic Recordings alongside Derrick Carter) and Justin Harris - both successful in their DJ and production careers.
Most of the full tracks don't really go past the 4 minute mark yet each tune is funky enough to get some groovers going, such as Washing Machine - a mash up of futuristic synth sounds, wobbly bass and "Blue Monday" like kick drums, featuring the vocals of Diz.
Where Were You When The Lights Went Out feels like a "pots and pans" kind of groove ie. it sounds like the beat was made using household items such as hitting pots and pans. The female vocals make this track something to sing along to.
Hang Up Your Hang Ups goes on a George Clinton/Parliament style of 80's funk with the slap bass, funky guitar, futuristic moog sounds and a call and response routine on the vocals. Fix It is a slo-mo reggae groove with trumpet samples and beatbox in the background.
Back to the 80's style again with The Creeps, Switching Channels and Love Hate - all on that kooky Basement Jaxx style of groove (along the lines of "Get Me Off" from Rooty).
80's Throwback lives up to it's name. It features an old-skool house beat with cheeky synth stabs and croaky vocals, whereas Nyce & Slo uses whispery female vocals on top of a techy-electro beat using lots of percussion and it builds up adding more elements towards the end.
At track 28 on the CD (after 12 or so 5 second bits of silence) comes Blam (the new jam) which sits on a quirky electro groove using guitar sounds and plenty of tech stabs featuring male vocals demonstrating plenty of attitude. BLAM!
The album features a lot of interludes and skits and some tracks that are short enough to be considered interludes as they don't go past the 2 and a half minute mark, probably there to give the album a bit of colour and variety, however I would have preferred longer tracks and shorter skits. All in all, it's not a bad album and for fans of Felix Da Housecat and all that 80's electronic music nostalgia, this is probably the album for them.